March of the Shameless: Taking Step 2

By RingMaster Review on October 10, 2022 • ( 0 )

You find us plunging back into the thick wealth of new singles discovered by prime explorer Shauna from the band UMMAGMA and of SHAMELESS PROMOTION PR for our monthly investigation; a second delve bringing another quartet of eagerly recommended adventures for ears and imagination

If you needed any encouragement to explore their freshly unveiled new EP, THE EMBER GLOWS recently gave a flavoursome taster in the shape of The Mirror. It is an alluring slice of the band’s indie rock/post punk nurtured enterprise which easily commanded our keenest attention.

Montreal-based, THE EMBER GLOWS emerged in 2019 with its members already part of other city hailing outfits such as ROOM CONTROL, REPO, SCENE NOIR and CITYLAKE. It was a side project which evolved into their lead priority, the quartet of Richard Bunze (guitar), Kevin Hills (bass), Martin Saint (vocals/ guitar) and Dan Stefik (drums) soon weaving a sound which equally drew upon essences of psych rock and new wave, embracing it all in a creative individuality which now lights up their EP and current single.

A lone melodic thread entangles ears first and immediately it bears an evocative breath which continues to grow as the track expands its enterprise and intimation loaded atmospherics. As it blossoms so a more clamorous essence also emerges, swirling around the guitar’s melodic web and Saint’s equally emotive tones.

With rhythms an earthier incitement within the raw yet ethereal sonic climate, The Mirror simply hooked us in, a certain Echo and The Bunnymen hue only adding to the captivation and urge to explore the four-track rich Where Spirits Play.

This November, British alternative artist SICKY reveals new album, Garbage Town and fair to say that its 18^th of the month release date is marked in the diary thanks to its two lead singles. Both The Bridge and the album’s title track made for the most potent teasers for a release and sound which relishes its individuality with almost mischievous enterprise.

SICKY is the solo project of Black Country hailing and Shropshire residing Mick Butler, a musician previously in bands such as PAPA MANTRA and SUMO. His own adventure sees him explore an indie rock bred sound which just as eagerly draws on the essences of Brit Pop and pop punk for its bold antics and inventive contagion; a sound which has drawn references to the likes of Beck, Supergrass and early Blur.

As the track, Garbage Town, soon reveals though, there is an overwhelming individuality to Butler’s songwriting and music which lingers in the imagination and memory. The song strolls in with a creative grin, its character devilish and rhythmic gait nagging, a combination soon under the skin as too Butler’s similarly involving tones. Just as compelling unpredictability adds to the song’s complexion, twists and turns giving it an almost manic and definitely captivating presence, much as the centre of its lyrical attention.

The Bridge has a rock ‘n’ roll swing to its canter, melodic sways adding to its swift hold on ears, yet it too has a kind of wild and slightly frenzied edge to it which gripped our attention and appetite and together the tracks have made for the most rousing and potent teaser for Butler’s self-released album which you can pre-order over at Bandcamp.

Before it’s unveiling, New York-based DMITRY WILD releases his own new album, Electric Souls. It is uncaged October 14^th and has plenty of curiosity brewing around it too thanks to tracks like new single, Sweetest Thing.

Wilde creates music which is garage rock bred but equally draws on vintage rock and punk incitement with more besides song to song. Sweetest Thing sees him embrace psych rock and noise pop essences, THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN and BIRDLAND like hues merging with his own individual sound in a track which looks at “fear and our tendency to cyclically return to that feeling before we can finally overcome it.”

The song shimmers into view, Wild’s tones similarly bearing scintillation before Sweetest Thing breaks into an energy driven stomp driven by rapacious rhythms. That psych rock clamour quickly soaks the air as punk nurtured dynamics further fuel the track’s rapacity. With moments of lustre surfaced calms, though they come with their own crepuscular aspects, the songs with its rousing presence keenly provoked an appetite to hear more.

Finally we offer up What Do Whales Dream About at Night? for your keenest exploration, it the new single and title track from the latest album from NYC-based songwriter-storyteller JESSIE KILGUSS. It is a song which charmed and captivated while all the while burying itself calmly under the skin, its success eagerly providing the itch to check out its larger namesake.

Previous album singles have provided plenty to warm intrigue for What Do Whales Dream About at Night? but its title track brings a whole new drama and depth to the tempting. Inspired by Headphones, a poem by Ukrainian poet Serhiy Zhadan which takes place during the war in Ukraine, Kilguss’ latest single gentle rises on the warm lures of harmonium and vocals. With a melancholic hue adding to its seduction, an inspiriting essence soon emerges as her contemplation grows, the strings of Nathan Schram raising the drama and enterprise already winning ears and appetite.

With a gentle but firm swing to its stroll, the song proved pure manipulation of the senses and imagination, its and the also now released album’s question a lingering thought and spark in so many joyful ways.

That is our second dip into the bag of goodness; stay tuned for the next tempting October plunge.